Barcelona Femeni played their first league game of the season yesterday after a week’s delay due to the strike by the player’s union. The team paid a visit to Madrid CFF on Matchday 2, where they secured their first win of the season by a 2-0 scoreline.
Goals from Caroline Graham Hansen and Asisat Oshoala send the Blaugrana on their way towards defending their league crown.
Here are a few talking points from the game:
Barca starts the season on a good note
The match against Madrid CFF was Barcelona’s first game of the 2023–2024 season. Barcelona defeated the Madrid side 2-0 and secured their first win of the season. The defending champions start their Liga F title defense on a good note.
The win carries a lot more importance when you consider the fact that Madrid CFF were the team that handed Barcelona their only defeat in the league last season.
Recovery from last season’s defeat
Barcelona played their last league game of the 2022–2023 season away at Madrid CFF, where they were handed their first defeat. The champions unbeaten record was brought to an end when they lost 2-1 to Madrid CFF.
Ironically, the first game of the new season was played away at Madrid CFF. However, for Barcelona, there were no echoes of their last visit, as they dominated play from start to finish. The team, although still lacking their usual rhythm in attack, constantly threatened the Madrid side and ended the game with a 2-0 win.
Debuts for Ona Batlle and Esmee Brugts
The new signings, Ona Batlle and Esmee Brugts, made their debuts against Madrid CFF. The Spanish fullback started and played the entirety of the game, even racking up an assist for Barcelona’s second goal of the game. A brilliant run down the left flank, evading challenges from three defenders before finally laying the ball on a plate for Asisat Oshoala to finish.
Esmee Brugts had a rather quiet debut, as she was introduced late in the game. The Dutch midfielder came on as a substitute for Aitana Bonmati in the 87th minute of the match and had no influence on the proceedings of the game.
Alexia’s first start since returning from injury
The two time Ballon d’Or winner, who spent about 10 months on the sidelines due to injury, returned to action towards the end of last season. And since then, the captain has been used as a substitute, slowly easing her into the game to aid her complete recovery.
Alexia Putellas was a part of the Spain women’s World Cup winning squad, and she has been gradually recovering her form and match fitness.
However, she was handed her first start for Barcelona yesterday since returning from injury. The midfielder was deployed as a false nine and almost scored from a header twice.
400 appearances for Alexia Putellas
The captain, who was handed her first start since returning from injury yesterday, made her 400th appearance for the club. Alexia reached the 400 game milestone for Barcelona Femeni on Saturday when she starred for the club in their 2-0 defeat of Madrid CFF.
Her appearance in the game makes her the second player in the club’s history after Melanie Serrano to achieve this remarkable feat.
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